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C. H. MULRONEY.

LATCH KEEPER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1913.

l 1 93,8 1 2 Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

ing at Brown Station, in the county 0 CHARLES H. MULRONEY, OF BRbWN STATION, NEW YORK.

LATCH-KEEPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Application filed September 4, 1913. Serial No. 788,150.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MUL'' RONEY, a citizen of the United States, resid- Ulster and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latch-Keepers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in latch keepers and particularly to latch keepers for steam shovels, dredge dippers and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a latch keeper of this character having a removable bushing which receives the wear produced by the engagement of the latch, and which may be reversed when worn in one place, and a new latch engaging surface brought into operative position.

Another object is to provide a latch keeper of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, efficient and reliable in operation, and which may be employed wherever a latch keeper of this character is used.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam shovel or dredge dipper illustrating the application of my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the latch keeper removed from the dipper; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the latch keeper bushing, removed.

My improved latch keeper comprises a body portion 1 which may be of any suitable size and shape and which in the present instance is shown as of rectangular oblong shape and as having the inner portion of its outer surfaces inclined toward its inner end, said portionhaving therein the usual bolt holes 2 which receive the bolts for fastening the keeper to the dipper. In the body 1 near the outer end thereof is a centrally disposed angular aperture 3 around which and in the outer or upper face of the keeper plate is formed a recess 4. The recess 4 may be of any suitable shape, but is here shown angular corresponding to the shape of the aperture 3. The recess 4: 1s conslderably larger than the aperture 3 and forms a seat to receive the attaching f flange for a bushing hereinafter described.

Removably engaged with the aperture 3 is a bushing 5 which corresponds in shape to the aperture and has on its outer end a laterally projecting flange 6 which corresponds in size and shape to the recess 4:, with which the said flange is engaged when the bushing is in position in the keeper plate. The aperture 3, bushing 5 and flange 6 are shown in the present instance as being square or rectangular, said parts however, may be of any other shape and the recess 4 made to correspond therewith. The bushing 5 extends entirely through the aperture 3, or corresponds in length to the thickness of the keeper plate. formed any desired number of apertures 7 to receive rivets 8 or other fastening devices which are inserted therethrough and through the body of the latch for the purpose of securely but removably fastening the bushing in place.

The opening 9 in the bushing is of rectangular shape and thus provides four working or latch engaging edges or surfaces 10 with one of which the latch of the dipper is brought into engagement when the hinged member of the dipper is closed. By thus providing a plurality of latch engaging sur faces, it will be seen that as one of said surfaces becomes worn from the repeated en-- gagement therewith of the latch, the bushing may be readily removed and turned or reversed to bring a new latch engaging surface into operative position, so that the latch plate may be continuously employed until all of the wearing surfaces of the bushing have become worn.

The bushing may be easily and quickly removed by withdrawing the fastening means therefrom and directing a light blow against its lower face, which is flush with the lower surface of the keeper.

After all of the latch engaging surfaces of the bushing have become worn and unfit for further use, the bushing may be discarded and a new bushing placed in position in the plate, thus obviating the necessity of providing an entirely new keeper plate as is required in the usual construction of steam shovels or excavating clippers. The plurality of latch engaging surfaces prolongs the usefulness of the bushing so that it becomes necessary to replace the latter only after long continued use.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanylng drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advan tages of the claimed invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A device of the class described com rising a substantially rectangular shaped bo y portion secured to the lower end of a dipper body and projecting therefrom at one end in the path of the dipper door latch, said proj ecting end having a. polygonal-shaped aperture extending therethrough with a correspondingly shaped enlargement at the end of the same adjacent the said door latch, a bushing shaped to fit said aperture and enlargement and forminga plurality of latch receiving faces corresponding in number to the walls of the polygonal shaped aperture,

one face of which is adapted to receive the said latch, said enlarged portion of the bushing having a plurality of openings therethrough, removable fastening elements positioned through said openings and engaging a the adjacent body portion to removably sei cure said bushing in place, said bushing ex .tending through the aperture from its ennesses.

CHARLES H. MULRONEY.

Witnesses O. S. ADAMS, E. K. JUDKINs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, G. 

